EAST TAWAS, MI — The East Tawas State Harbor could soon get a $3 million upgrade.

The harbor's rehabilitation is included as part of Gov. Rick Snyder’s fiscal year 2015 budget recommendation.

Sen. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, said he applauds the proposed funding.

“This is great news for the region. Maintaining and improving our infrastructure, from our roads to our harbors, is critical to protecting our economy, the safety of boaters and tourists and promoting our outdoor heritage,” Moolenaar said in a prepared statement.

“I applaud Governor Snyder and Director Creagh for understanding this integration and calling for more than $3 million to make the necessary improvements to revitalize the harbor and ensure it is a safe place for boaters.”

Moolenaar worked closely with Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh on the project and hosted him for a visit to East Tawas last summer during the Annual Heritage Route 23 Tour, Moolenaar said.

“The project is the first step to rehabilitate East Tawas State Harbor and ensure that it can continue to serve as a harbor of refuge for boaters on Lake Huron,” Moolenaar said.

“As the current docks have deteriorated, several have had to be closed or removed due to safety concerns. The primary purpose of this project is to eliminate safety hazards that limit public use of the harbor by replacing the failing docks with new ones that are structurally stable, accessible and equipped with updated utilities," he said.

The $3.05 million capital outlay request in the fiscal year 2015 budget would fund the first phase of the project to rehabilitate East Tawas State Harbor, Moolenaar said. The funding would come from federal and state restricted funding sources and would be contingent on approval of a federal grant submitted through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Boating Infrastructure Grant Program.

"These are much needed improvements," said Chuck Allen, supervisor of the Parks and Recreation Division of the Michigan DNR.

The harbor facility hasn't seen improvements since 1985, Allen said.

"Most of the infrastructure is really outdated," he said.

The first phase of the project would build 60 slips and new transient docks and replace the 30-amp electrical service with a 50-amp system, which is required for many modern boats, he said.

"It's really important for the harbor itself and also for the town of East Tawas," Allen said. "It's a huge economic draw for the city, all the boaters that come here."

The harbor will look differently, Allen said, noting that the changes are based on a survey asking boaters what they wanted at the harbor and many said they wanted slips to be closer to shore.